1. Geocaching and the North Dakota GIS Hub Bob Nutsch GIS Coordinator State of North Dakota GIS Day 2004

2. 2 Agenda Introduction to Geocaching GIS Hub Data Putting it all together References

3. 3 Introduction to Geocaching A geocache is typically a container ranging in size from a film cannister to an ammunition can. About 150 caches in North Dakota Depending on the size of the container, it contains a log book, pencil, and treasure. Treasure might be toys, souvenirs, and a “travel bug.”

4. 4 Introduction to Geocaching

5. 5 Use a GPS Receiver to locate a cache using lat- long coordinates posted on the geocaching web site. Basic rule: sign the log book and if you take something, put something back of equal or greater value. After finding a cache, log your find on the geocaching web site. There are many other types of caches, e.g., a “virtual cache” on the geocaching web site.

6. 6 Introduction to Geocaching

7. 7 To play, anyone can use the geocaching web site to find a cache to be hunted or to log their own cache for others to find. The geocaching web site provides basic maps to assist in locating a cache. These maps are limited in what is displayed and there is little or no customization. This is where the GIS Hub can help!

8. 8 Use the GIS Hub to: Build your own customized maps: Local roads, water, land ownership Aerial photographs Elevation Define your map symbology Plan the trip: Best access Parking Places of interest

9. 9 What is the GIS Hub? A database and web infrastructure hosted by the state Information Technology Department (ITD) for hosting and sharing State agency GIS data and applications – the “GIS Hub.”

10. 10 Communications Elevation Geology Political Boundaries State and Federal Lands Places and Cultural Points Transportation Water Resources Aerial Photography Datasets

11. 11 GIS Hub Data Sources Downloadable Data Metadata Explorer – browser-based data searching and download. Hub Explorer – browser-based interactive maps and data download. Web Services Images – e.g., aerial photography Features – e.g., water, roads, etc. Internet connection required, saves disk space

12. 12 Downloadable Data

13. 13 Downloadable Data

14. 14 Downloadable Data

15. 15 Downloadable Data

16. 16 Downloadable Data – Hub Explorer

17. 17 Downloadable Data – Hub Explorer

18. 18 Downloadable Data – Hub Explorer

19. 19 Display GIS Hub & Geocaching Data Use ArcExplorer (from ESRI) Free download! (select Java version) Display downloaded data and web services Display geocaches – found & not-yet-found Customize the map symbology Save zooms scale and other settings Print maps

20. 20 Managing Geocaching Data Many products are available Some are free and some cost $ Some include map display of data Some include direct writing to an ESRI shapefile, others require another program to create the shapefile. You need to be able to save your data to a shapefile so that ArcExplorer can be used. Good example: GPS Utility (freeware)

21. 21 Putting It All Together Download geocaches from geocaching web site (.loc) Load the.loc file(s) into GPS Utility Multiple files can be merged into one Create a separate file for your found caches Save the geocache data as a shapefile Load geocache data, downloaded Hub data and web services into ArcExplorer

22. 22 Download Geocaches

23. 23 Open File(s) in GPS Utility

24. 24 Review Data in GPS Utility

25. 25 Save To Shapefile

26. 26 Load Hub Data into ArcExplorer

27. 27 Load Geocache Data into ArcExplorer

28. 28 Combined Shapefile Data Create a shapefile for your found caches

29. 29 Add More Shapefile Data

30. 30 Add Hub Web Services Data

31. 31 Web Services – Aerial Photos

32. 32 Web Services - Topo

33. 33 Web Services – Feature Data

34. 34 Summary ArcExplorer GPS Utility GPS Geocaching Web Site (.loc) Shapefile (.shp) Hub Download (.shp) Hub Web Services

35. 35 Important Links GIS Hub: www.discovernd.com/giswww.discovernd.com/gis ArcExplorer: http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer Geocaching: www.geocaching.comwww.geocaching.com GPS Utility: http://www.gpsu.co.ukhttp://www.gpsu.co.uk

36. 36 Thank You! For more information, please contact: Bob Nutsch, GIS Coordinator 701-328-3212 bnutsch@state.nd.us www.discovernd.com/gis